Unlock the secret to making the most mouthwatering Sloppy Joes your family will love with this easy-to-follow recipe! Packed with juicy tomatoes, savory ground beef, and zesty spices, your taste buds will thank you.
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Key to Success #1 – Use Lean Ground Beef
The key to the Best Sloppy Joes is to get lean ground beef with lots of flavor but not all the grease and fat. I like to use at least 93% lean ground beef.
I like to use my cast iron skillet to brown ground beef.
I also have a straight-edge wooden paddle that I use to chop up the beef as it’s cooking. You can use high heat when browning ground beef.
And cook with the lid off for best browning.
Key to Success #2 – Two to One Ratio
The sauce for The Best Sloppy Joes is two parts Head Country BBQ sauce to one part ketchup.
You can use this ratio if you need to adjust the amount of ground beef you’re using.
I highly recommend using Head Country original BBQ sauce. It has a nice tang and it’s not overly sweet.
You can use any barbecue sauce that you like.
If you want to adjust the sweetness of your sauce, try adding some brown sugar when you add the BBQ sauce and ketchup.
Key to Success #3 – Cook Covered
As the ground beef cooks in the sauce, it will start to bubble around the edges.
You’ll want to cover the pan with a lid then reduce heat and allow it to continue cooking with the lid on.
Remember to stir the Sloppy Joes often as they are cooking.
The sauce will thicken and the flavors will combine.
That’s when you know the Sloppy Joes are ready.
You can serve these Sloppy Joes on a bun or over baked potatoes.
I usually serve them on a bun the first night then have the leftovers on baked potatoes for lunches throughout the week.
They are great with potato chips or even with Air Fryer French Fries or Corn on the Cob.
Save this Sloppy JOes Recipe to your favorite Sandwich board or your BBQ Recipes board.
The Best Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 cups Head Country BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over high heat. Drain well.
- Return the meat to pan and add BBQ sauce and ketchup. Cover and cook on medium-high heat for 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Stir often.
Notes
Nutrition
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